The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business 
Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A senior tourism official has called for a product strategy targeting key markets supplying air arrivals to Exuma.

Tyrone Sawyer, Senior Director of Airlift Development, Ministry of Transport & Aviation, told the ninth Exuma Business Outlook yesterday that Exuma had seen growth in its air arrivals segment this year from 2010 to 2013.

“We need a product strategy to make sure that Exuma gets the airlift that it needs,“ he said. “Airlift drive demand, demand drives airlift. We need to target a sales and public relations effort against the markets that bring the bulk of people to Exuma. That would move the needle forward in a substantial way. You’re getting most of your business from New York, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. We need to focus on those markets because we can connect to those markets via Atlanta through Delta airlines,” said Mr Sawyer.

He added: “We need to consider developing a Nassau hub. Once you have a hub with a bunch of flights in and your schedule is connected, not only coming to Exuma but coming from Exuma to connect outbound flights, now they can see you. You also have the benefits of discounted fares because there is such a good connection and there is the benefit of codeshare relationships. That’s what we need to do, not only for Exuma but to make out island airlift work.”

Mr Sawyer noted that Delta currently offers three flights a week from Atlanta and American Airlines offers two flights daily and is looking to increase its seat capacity from a 50 seater aircraft to a 70 seater aircraft. “Our airlift to The Bahamas is what we call hub and spoke driven; eight per cent of our business comes from airlines like Delta that bring their passengers through Atlanta for instance,” said Mr Sawyer.